RCB vs RR, IPL 2023: Harshal Patel holds his nerves and Royal Challengers Bangalore win by 7 runs

Big win for the side in green!

Despite RCB having only Faf and Maxwell do the heavylifiting in the batting department, in the bowling, the side made sure to take wickets after the Jaiswal and DDP partnership was broken.

In the final over, Harshal Patel held his nerves and even got the wicket of R Ashwin.

This time Harshal bowls a wide slower ball and R Ashwin throws the kitchen sink on the slog but timing eludes him.

Ashwin c Prabhudessai b Harshal Patel 12(6) [4s-2]

Length ball outside off and Hetmyer slaps it towards extra cover. He tries to sneak the single but Prabhudessai the fielder stops and manages the bull's eye!! 

Hetmyer run out (Prabhudessai) 3(9)

It was length outside off from Harshal and Samson slashed at it.

The ball catches the bottom half on the edge and flies towards Shahbaz at short third. 

Samson c Shahbaz Ahmed b Harshal Patel 22(15) [4s-2 6s-1]

Jaiswal slowed down as he got close to his fifty, and Harshal knew that.

He dished out a slower delivery which ended as a low full toss and the southpaw tried to slam it over long-on.

However, the ball went and landed into the palms of captain Kohli. 

Jaiswal c Kohli b Harshal Patel 47(37) [4s-5 6s-2]

Just the wicket RCB needed!

No timing on his shot and Kohli running in from long-on completes a nice grab. 

Padikkal c Kohli b Willey 52(34) [4s-7 6s-1]

Despite the wicket of Buttler for a DUCK, Devdutt Padikkal along with Jaiswal have put on a strong partnership.

50 for DDP.

The middle stump is rattled!

And no one can stop Siraj, especially in the Powerplay.

Buttler b Siraj 0(2)

RR need 190 to win!

Bangalore, who after the strong partnership between Faf and Maxwell were looking to go past 230 even.

However, after their wickets fell, RCB, like always fell like a pack of cards.

Two in two for Sandeep Sharma!

Vijaykumar Vyshak came down the track and took it from a length but the ball finds Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket. 

Vijaykumar Vyshak c Hetmyer b Sandeep Sharma 0(1)

Karthik finds long-on but picks out Buttler with a flat skimmer. 

Karthik c Buttler b Sandeep Sharma 16(13) [4s-2]

Another run-out as Karthik wanted to take the strike. 

The two batter collided but Hasaranga sacrificed his wicket for DK.

Hasaranga run out (Samson/Sandeep Sharma) 6(7)

There was no run needed there!

Prabhudessai got a soft leading-edge that rolled to cover. He wanted a quick single.

While Karthik responded initially, he turned back and sent Prabhudessai back who was halfway down the pitch. 

Jaiswal swooped in and sent the ball to Samson who did the rest.

Prabhudessai run out (Jaiswal/Samson) 0(2)

Lomror fails again and RCB are losing wickets!

Two former RCB players send back Lomror - Chahal bowls and Padikkal takes a good catch.

Lomror c Padikkal b Chahal 8(6) [4s-1]

Two different emotions - a cry of anguish from Maxwell while Ashwin is jumping for joy.

Not the way Maxwell would want to get out and surely this was not something RCB would want at this point.

Maxwell c Holder b Ashwin 77(44) [4s-6 6s-4]

The only way to stop FAF was the run-out!

Exceptional from Jaiswal at extra-cover and a direct-hit saw du Plessis be caught short. 

Maxwell shows his displeasure at the other end. 

du Plessis run out (Jaiswal) 62(39) [4s-8 6s-2]

With a FOUR, it's a 50 for du Plessis. 

The RCB skipper has been in good form from the start of the 2023 season.

With a SIX, it is a 50 for the Victorian. 

A fabulous innings by the Aussie, especially after the two quick wickets.

A short of length delivery on the stumps and Shahbaz Ahmed went for the pull with no control. The balll loops to Jaiswal.

Shahbaz Ahmed c Jaiswal b Boult 2(4)

The crowd have been sushed at the Chinnaswamy!

Kohli walks off and did not even look at du Plessis. 

It was the Boult trademark inswinger which pitches fuller on middle and Kohli plays all around the flick. 

Kohli lbw b Boult 0(1)

RR go with an unchanged squad, RCB make one change - Wayne Parnell is out and he will be replaced by David Willey. Faf continues to play as an impact sub.

Teams:

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Virat Kohli(c), Faf du Plessis, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik(w), Suyash Prabhudessai, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak